5/25/11: The Oprah Winfrey Show series finale
Talk show host, philanthropist and media mogul Oprah Winfrey swiftly rose to the top of the talk show world in 1986 – a field then dominated mostly by white males – whenThe Oprah Winfrey Show first debuted. After 25 years of her groundbreaking program, the series finale aired on May 25, 2011. Fans and friends all around the country tuned in to say goodbye to one of the most powerful African American women in the world. Save the tears! You can still have your weekly cry or life lesson on the OWN Network.
6/24/11: Beyoncé Knowles is boss
As of Jan., the 30-year old singer has sold more than 30 million digital singles in the United States and 75 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. One of the most media-exposed black artists today, her music has been heard around the world, empowering women with messages of confidence, sisterhood and independence. If you haven’t already you can pick up the Target exclusive version of Beyoncé’s album “4” at your at Target!
8/8/11: Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Watch the Throne”
Just one week after the August release of Jay-Z and Kanye West’s collaboration album, “Watch the Throne,” it sold more than 430,000 albums and reached the number one spot on iTunes in 23 countries. Perhaps one of the most important albums in recent hip-hop history, Jay-Z and Kanye break down barriers with honesty, bravado and, at times, autobiographical verses and rhymes. The hip-hop heavyweights go beyond cliché club tracks about money and video girls. Instead they provide a modern commentary on subjects ranging from Malcolm X and the Holocaust to the dark side of fame and race in America.
8/10/11: “The Help”
It was a story not often told in the 1960s segregated south. This novel-turned-nominated drama peeks into the lives of African American maids and their white employers in Jackson, Miss. The enchanting Emma Stone broke out of her romcom rut to portray the lead role of Skeeter Phelan, but Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer stole the show with their gritty, heartfelt performances. Viola Davis took home a SAG Award for best leading actress in a drama, while Octavia Spencer snagged the award for outstanding female actor in a supporting role, as well as the award at The Golden Globes. In addition, the film was the winner of the SAG Awards’ outstanding ensemble in a motion picture.
See the rest of the top 10 moments in Pop Culture from last year up until the present at http://abullseyeview.com/10-pop-culture-moments-black-history-month/.
